Machine for spotting net or like fabrics.



N0. 686,783. Patented Nov. l9, I90I.

E. L. THORP.

MACHINE FOR SPUTTING NET 0R LIKE FABRICS.

(Application filed Nov. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR LESLIE THORP, OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR SPOTTING NET OR LIKE FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 686,783, dated November19, 1901.

Application filed November 12, 1900. Serial No. 36,277. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR LESLIE THORP, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Nottingham, England, have invented anew and useful Machine for Spotting Net or Like Fabrics, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for spotting net, veilings, and thelike of the type in which a series of small pieces of chenille are out01f, formed into U-shaped loops, placed in the net, and secured theretoto form a row of spots, substantially as set forth, for instance, in thespecification of British Letters Patent No. 25,271 of the year 1896.

Now the present invention has for its objects various improvements inmachines of this kind designed to render the same more certain in theiraction and to produce superior work. To this end means are provided formore effectually centralizing or adjusting the meshes of the net, therebeing appropriate means for dealing both with large meshes and withsmall meshes. Means are also provided for more correctly forming thepieces of chenille into U-shaped loops prior to applying them to thenet.

The invention also has reference to means for properly nipping orclosing together the ends of the loops and for feeding the net throughthe machine without the use of porcupine-rollers, such as previouslyemployed.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is ageneral View, in vertical crosssection, of one construction of machineembodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail side View, andFig. 8 a front View, of the mechanism for cutting and looping thechenille. Fig. at is a detail perspective View of one of the devices forcentralizing largemesh net. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective ofthe pin and pin-plate hereinafter referred to. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the cutter. Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side views,respectively, of the device for con tralizing small-mesh net. Figs. 9and 10 are respectively a plan and a section of the means for closing ornipping the loops. Figs. 11 to 17 are diagrammatic views illustratingthe operation of forming a single chenille spot. Fig. 18 is afragmentary View showing how the centralizing devices act on large meshnet. Figs. 19 and 20 show similarly the centralizing action with twodifferent kinds of small-mesh net, the scale being in this case largerthan full size. Fig. 21 is a detail view showing the shape of the pieceof chenille just after being cut by the improved mechanism. Fig.22 showsthe same as cut by the ordinary mechanism.

a is one of the heads in which the cutting and looping mechanism issituated. 1) is a three-armed lever mounted on said head, and c is aspring-pin around which the loop is first bent to its U shape. The saidlever 11 is recessed at its front end I), so that when down, as in Fig.2, and restingover the pin cit exerts no pressure upon said pin, andconsequently cannot break or damage it.

(1 is one of the cutters forsevering the piece of chenille. slides inthe heads a and are channeled on their under sides to accommodate thepushers e, which first hold the chenille against the pin 0 while beingcutoff and formed and then thrust it forward into the net.

d is a U-shaped mouth or former, consisting of a rounded channel in theunder side of the cutter end. It serves to press the loop into shapeafter being cut off.

The end of the cutter is slightlyindented,resembling a wide-angled V inshape, so that its edges project somewhat, 61 being the cuttingedge,whiled isanon-cuttingedge. Theshape of the cutter end and of theedge d causes the chenillewire to be out without bur and produces apiece approximately of the shape shown in Fig. 21, with ends splayed outsomewhat, but not at the sharp angle shown in Fig. 22, which is theordinary form of a freshly-cut piece of chenille. With this latter form.it is very difficult to eliminate the sharp bends in the ends of theloops,whereas with the shape shown in Fig. 21 a finished loop of perfectform results. The cutter is connected by a link d with a lever (1actuated from the cam-shaft j, and, similarly, the lever b isconnectedby a link 6 with a bellcrank lover I), actuated in the same manner.

(1 is a recess in the end of the cutter opposite the lever b. It allowsthe edge of the cutter to pass on each side of said lever while thelatter is holding down the chenille.

f is a pin-plate, so called because it car- These cutters are arrangedasries the pin a and its spring 0. Itis connected to the pusher e by thefollowing arrangements: In the pusher is a short recess 6, in whichworks a stud e on the pin-plate, thus allowing a certain amount of lostmotion between them, while at the rear end of the pusher is a finger efrom which a spring f extends to the pin-plate. The spring tends to drawback the pin-plate, so that the pin 0 shall press against the end of thepusher when the chenille is to be nipped or held;

a is a link coupled to a lever 6 which is acted on by a cam j on theshaft j, so as to reciprocate the pusher.

e is a stop which limits the rearward movement of the pin-plate bycominginto engagement with a pin e in the head a. It will be noticed,however, that owing to the lost motion above referred to this does notinterfere with the further backward movement of the pusher e.

g is a slide which comes under the pin 0 and raises it at the propertime. This slide is operated by a rod or link g and lever g from a cam j011 the cam-shaft j.

71. and 7c are the centralizing devices or pointers. The former arecarried in the heads a and work behind the net, being termed the mainpointers, while the latter work in front of the net and are termedauxiliary pointers.

The main pointers It may be carried by the slides g, being madedetachable therefrom, so that they may be removed when small-mesh net isbeing dealt with. They may, however, be mounted on separate slides oftheir own.

The auxiliary pointers 7c cooperate with the main pointers hforlarge-mesh net and serve also by themselves to centralize small-meshnet. They are carried by a bar 70, working in slots 70 in checks orbrackets 10 The operation'of the bar moves the pointers 7c in and out.\Vhen moved inward-that is, to the right with regard to Fig. 7 thepointers are pressed slightly apart by a block 70*, and therefore whenmoving outward again and piercing the net the pointers close togethersomewhat and so act more effectually to displace the bars of the net.The bar is actuated by links 10 and levers 70 from a cam-shaft Z. Theauxiliary pointers may be situated above the fixing-center of large-meshnet and cooperate with the pointers h to insure perfect centralization,as indicated in Fig. 18. When, however, fabrics with very small mesh arebeing spotted, the main pointers h are removed and the pointers k 70 arearranged opposite the pusher 6. They then act to open out the fabric bypushing aside the bars, as in Figs. 19 and 20, soleaving passagesthrough which the ends of the chenille loop enter the net. It is to beunderstood that the terms main and auxiliary are applied to these partsfor the purpose of distinction only on account of their relative sizesand not in regard to any disparity in their functions.

at is the usual ram or plunger for finally pressing up and clenching theloop. It is situated between the points k k.

p p are two blades or jaws which form the nipper for closing the loopready for the action of the rain m. These jaws instead of being arrangedscissorswise, as formerly,come together with a rectilinear motion andhave their ends notched and let into each other, as

in Figs. 9 and 10, to more efiectually close the' loop. The said jaws pp are carried by bars n a, working in slotted brackets q, arranged ateach end of the machine. At one end the bars are connected by areversing link n pivoted at n to the bar 1" or to a projectiontherefrom. Thus a longitudinal movement of one red causes acorresponding movement of the other, but in an opposite direction, andhence the jaws will be either closed, Figs. 9 and 10, or opened. Themovements of the rods may be effected in any convenient manner.

s s are plain or sand-covered rollers, over which the net or fabrictravels. These rollers take the place of the studded or porcupinerollers previously employed and which are dispensed with as hinderingthe free passage of the fabric through the machine, the centralizingdevices insuring the proper positioning of the meshes.

The chenille v is supplied from bobbins 'LL, preferably carried abovethe machine, and is fed to the looping and cutting devices by the usualfeed-rollers w and y.

The operation of forming a spot is as follows: The main pointer h andits corresponding auxiliary pointers 7c first move from 0pposite sidesthrough the net i, as shown at Fig. 11. This action brings the part ofthe net which is to receive a spot exactly opposite the head a-that is,into its proper position opposite the spotting device-each part beingheld positively in place independent of the other parts. The slide 9 ofthe main pointer h also raises the pin a at the same time, as beforementioned. The chenille b is now fed by the rollers a: and y between thepin 0 and the pusher 2 until the piece which is to form the loop restswith its middle part opposite said pin, so that it can readily be bentaround the same, thus insuring a very correct and uniform formation ofthe loop. The pusher e at this time is moving toward the pin 0, as inFig. 12. The end I) of the lever b now descends over the pin and thepusher end, so as to hold the chenille in place between them without,however, pressing on the chenille. I11 other words, the lever closes thespace above the pin and prevents the chenille slipping over the top ofthe latter. The cutter (:1 now moves forward over the pusher e and pin a(the recess (1 in them accommodating the lever end) and cuts off therequired piece of chenille. The pusher advances slightly and furthertightens its hold on the loop, which is as yet only of the shape shownin Fig. 21. The lever then rises, and the former d in the under side ofthe cutter acts on the partly-formed loop and completes the same. Thepusher c then continues its forward movement toward the net and thruststhe U-shaped loop into place, the pin a being between the chenille andthe net, as shown on Fig. 14. The nippers p p are next operated, as atFig. 15, and bring together the two ends of the V-shaped piece ofchenille. The nippers then retire, as do also the auxiliary pointers 7c70, and the rams or plungers on close or press up the ends ofthe loopsand finish the spot, as in Fig. 16. Finally, the main pointers 72retire, whereupon the pin 0 springs out of the spot, the pin-plate falso retiring, as Well as the pusher e and plunger on, so leaving thechenille in the fabric, as at Fig. 17, and resuming their originalpositions ready to form the next row of spots.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination of thedevices for forming and fixing the spots to the fabric, and means forpositively centralizing each portion of the fabric which is to receive aspot opposite a set of said devices, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination ofdevices for applying spots of chenille to the fabric, centralizingdevices entering the meshes and bringing each portion of the fabric intoits proper position to receive the spot independently of the otherportions thereof, and means for operating said devices, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination of aseries of heads, loop-forming mechanism in said heads, pins around whichsaid loops are bent and clamped, centralizing devices for bringing eachportion of fabric independently and positively into position to receivethe loop opposite said heads, pushers for inserting the loops into thefabric, mechanism for closing the loops, and means for operating saidparts, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination ofdevices for forming and inserting loops of chenille, movable pins aroundwhich the loop is bent duringits formation, pointers for independentlycentralizing each portion of the fabric to receive the loop, nippers forpressing together the ends of the loops, bars moving longitudinally inopposite directions for carrying said nippers, and means for operatingsaid parts, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the employment of acombined chenille-cutter and loop former having forwardly-projectingcutting and non-cutting edges, a central recess, and a forming-mouth onits under side, a pin-plate working in a groove in its under side, a pinon said plate around which the loop is bent and clamped during itsformation and means for positively centralizing each portion of thefabric which is to receive a loop opposite the chenille-cutter andloop-former, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination of aseries of heads, chenille-feed wheels thereon,cutters arranged to slideto and fro therein and having indented ends, levers mounted on saidheads and designed to prevent the chenille escaping during the cuttingoperation, a projecting cutting edge at one side of each of saidcutters, a corresponding non-cutting edge at the opposite side thereof,a recess in the cutter end to accommodate the presser-lever, aforming-mouth in the lower side of the cutter to shape the loops, andmeans for operating said parts and means for positively centralizingeach portion of the fabric which is to receive the loop opposite thechenillecutter and loop-former, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination of achenille-feed, a combined cutter and loop-former, a springpin aroundwhich the loop is bent, a pinplate carrying said spring-pin, a pusherworking in the under side of said cutter, a stud on said pin-plateworking in a recess in said pusher and so giving a lost-motion action, aspring-raising slide beneath said spring-plate, a centralizing-pointerconnected to said slide,

and means for operating said parts, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination withthe means for applying the chenille spots, of a centralizingpointeradapted to enter the mesh from one side of the fabric, a slide carryingthe same, a pair of auxiliary cen tralizing-pointers working on theopposite side of said fabric to the aforesaid pointer, a fixed blockbetween said pointers causing them to open and close slightly as theywork to and fro, and means for operating said pointers, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a machine for spotting net and like fabric, the combination ofmeans for inserting the loops to form the spots into the fabric, nippersadapted to close the ends of said loops, bars each carrying half of saidnippers, means for operating said bars simultaneously in oppositedirections, aram between each of said nippers for finally clenching therounded ends of the loops, means for operating said ram and means forpositively centralizing each portion of the fabric which is to receivethe loop opposite the said nippers, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDGAR LESLIE THORP.

Witnesses:

EDWARD D. HEARN, J12, T. B. Cox.

